Abstract
In the previous paper, isolation of lumicaeruleic acid from the ether extract of the bark of Phellodendron amurense Rupr. was described. In the present series of experiments, Phellodendron bark was extracted with alcohol, berberine and the bitter principles were removed from the extract, and an acid substance soluble in alkali was obtained. This acid substance gave lumicaeruleic acid, m.p. 167-168°, in a better yield than by the previous method. This acid substance was found to be present in an equimolar amount as berberine. Low-pressure sublimation (150-170° at 3mm. Hg) of lumicaeruleic acid from Phellodendron bark and that, m.p. 164-165°, from the rhizome of Coptis japonica Makino, yielded the same sample melting at 173° which was found by mixed fusion to be identical with ferulic acid, m.p. 173°, obtained from Asafetida. It was thereby shown that the structural formula of the capillary images of Phellodendron bark and Coptis are indicated by the following:
α-(Br)⋅non-(B)L=Ferulic acid⋅β-(Y)=Berberine⋅γ-(Br)
